"the "Nintendo eShop" loading text has been given a snazzy re-design, which does seem to be the case; it's a nice font, that's for sure."

In fact, it is the same logo as the one used for the Nintendo eShop on Wii U, Nintendo has simply unified the signature of its outlets on both systems. I hope it is the first step towards a deeper integration of the 3DS with Wii U's core features (3DS eShop account linked with or even fused into the Nintendo Network ID, Miiverse integration, etc.)

The major problem is that 3DS and VIta has not been placed in different categories instead of a generic "Best portable game".

The other problem is the fact that three Vita games (among them non-exclusively portable games like Sound Shapes) were nominated and only one 3DS game, and not the better this year. It would have been fair to have two Vita-exclusive games and two 3DS-exclusive games nominated. It is absolute nonsense that Kid Icarus Uprising and Resident Evil Revelations, games made exclusively for an handheld device, were not nominated. These two games are largely among the best we've seen on any platform this year.

To conclude, these awards have the importance we give them, for me, it's zero importance !

For information, here are the prices in €uros for downloadable games, all available tomorrow at 1am CET:

New Super Mario Bros 2: 44.99€
New Art Academy: 34.99€
Freakyforms Deluxe: 29.99€

I agree with the idea of launching new games from classic franchises through the Nintendo eShop. I have an idea: why Nintendo don't launch a new Mario Bros (not Super Mario Bros but the classic Mario Bros played on a single screen with pipes at the top and the bottom and a POW block) with new twists ? It would be great !

It seems to be a fair review.

Mario Tennis Open seems to follow the same way as Mario Kart 7: the solo game is made to learn the basics of the gameplay, to build your own character (kart for Mario Kart 7) to compete in online or local multiplayer modes, something Nintendo emphasizes with the 3DS. Unfortunately, this reduces the width and depth of the solo experience...

I'm still planning to buy this game next friday because Mario Tennis is not something I know very well (I started experimenting Mario Tennis N64 on my Wii two months ago) and I want to discover this type of game. I'll see if I will enjoy it a lot...

Even if the price is high (but not a surprise compared to the US price tag), I'll buy VVVVVV this thursday, for sure !

@grumblebuzzz You're right about the two episodes of The Legend of Zelda on Nintendo DS, I've forgotten this not-so-good-but-also-not-so-bad experiment. And you're also right about touch controls for platformers.

I'm tired to read analysis from pseudo-analysts who ignore everything about the video game industry and speak about it... Nintendo makes hardware, so it is absolutely normal that Nintendo software is exclusive to Nintendo hardware.

Those analysts must give smartphone games a go and see how touch controls are everything except precise and reactive ! I can't imagine playing seriously a Mario platformer or a Zelda game with touch controls.

@Mickeymac No problem !

@Mickeymac I totally agree with you ! I said that PS3 and 360 are toys just like the Wii is for this guy just to show how what he said is ridiculous.

@Sony_70 I don't own an XBox 360, and I'm not interested by everything around this console so I didn't know that Microsoft sells its console as something different.

@Sony_70 Their primary purpose will always be playing games, so these consoles are also toys ! Everything around media is secondary, not something important.

As said before, this person also considers the Wii as a toy, which makes me believe he is not serious. Can he tell me what are PS3 and XBox 360 then...

They're making a mistake ! Resident Evil 6 could be a Day One killer app for Wii U with most owners taking this game with the console and take a good advantage of the touch screen included in the controller...

If Nintendo decides to start selling retail games through the Nintendo eShop on both 3DS and Wii U, I hope they won't make the same mistakes as Sony with PS3 and Vita.

For me, if a retail game is sold digitally, the digital price must be largely lower (at least 33%) than the retail price because there is no box, no disc or cartridge, no instruction booklet or things like that to consider into the price. When I see in the PlayStation Store that PS3 games are more expensive than on shelves or Vita games are just between 0 and 5€ cheaper, I don't understand and I'm not interested in buying retail games digitally...

With the games I own (cartridge, download and ambassador), my Top 12 may be:

1. Mario Kart 7
2. Kid Icarus Uprising
3. The Legend of Zelda - Ocarina of Time 3D
4. Pullblox (aka Pushmo in North America)
5. Super Mario 3D Land
6. Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D
7. The Legend of Zelda - Link's Awakening DX
8. Metroid Fusion
9. Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition
10. 3D Classics Xevious
11. Ridge Racer 3D
12. Wario Land - Super Mario Land 3

Well, there is a large amount of games I'll have to download (Punch-Out, Dr.Mario, Kid Icarus, Shinobi, Sonic TT) !
I'm disappointed to see that it is the MegaDrive version of Super Street Fighter II that will have an online mode and not the SNES version already available for years... I'm sure I won't be able to resist and pay a second time just to play online....